Nadir Mahmood
About Nadir Mahmood
Nadir Mahmood, Ph.D., is President of Nkarta (NKTX) and an executive officer, appointed effective July 29, 2024. He is 45, holds a B.S. in Biochemistry (UT Austin) and a Ph.D. in Cell Regulation (UT Southwestern), completed postdoctoral research at The Scripps Research Institute, and previously served as NKTX’s Chief Financial & Business Officer (2019–2023) before a stint as CEO of Rezo Therapeutics (2023–2024) . In 2024, NKTX paid executive annual incentives at 90% of target based on financial and operational objectives, and Mahmood’s non‑equity incentive payout for 2024 was $101,281, indicating a performance‑tied cash component despite his partial‑year service .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nkarta, Inc. | President | Jul 2024 – present | Responsible for strategic focus, operational excellence, and enterprise alignment across pipeline programs and operations . |
| Rezo Therapeutics | Chief Executive Officer | Jul 2023 – Jun 2024 | Led private-stage drug discovery company . |
| Nkarta, Inc. | Chief Financial & Business Officer | Oct 2020 – Jun 2023 | Played direct role in corporate strategy, private/public financings, and building in‑house manufacturing capabilities . |
| Nkarta, Inc. | Chief Business Officer | Sep 2019 – Oct 2020 | Business leadership during early corporate build-out . |
| Nkarta, Inc. | SVP, Corporate Development | May 2018 – Sep 2019 | Corporate development leadership . |
| Second Genome, Inc. | Roles of increasing responsibility | Mar 2012 – Apr 2018 | Led corporate development and partnerships . |
| Goldman Sachs | Equity Research Fellow | Jan 2011 – Jul 2011 | Sell-side research experience . |
| The Scripps Research Institute | Postdoctoral Research | Aug 2009 – Jan 2011 | Scientific research training . |
External Roles
No current public-company board roles disclosed for Mahmood in NKTX filings .
Fixed Compensation
Multi-year summary (reported compensation):
| Metric | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary ($) | 283,077 | 226,354 |
| Actual cash bonus paid ($) | — | 101,281 |
Current ongoing fixed terms (as of April 2025):
- Base salary: $543,250; Target bonus: 50% of base salary .
- Initial appointment terms in July 2024 set base salary at $530,000 and target bonus at 50% of base salary .
Performance Compensation
Annual cash incentive (2024)
| Metric category | Weighting | Target | Actual | Payout % | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate financial & operational objectives | Not disclosed | 50% of base salary (prorated) | $101,281 | 90% | Cash in 2024 |
Equity awards (most recent)
| Grant date | Type | Shares/Options | Exercise price | Vesting schedule | Expiration | Grant-date fair value ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 29, 2024 | Stock option | 550,000 | 6.69 | 25% on Jul 29, 2025; remainder in 36 equal monthly installments through Jul 29, 2028 | 07/28/2034 | 3,001,680 |
Notes:
- NKTX’s 2020 Performance Incentive Plan generally does not auto‑accelerate vesting upon a change in control unless the Compensation Committee provides otherwise; awards are typically assumed by a successor .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
As of April 10, 2025:
- Total beneficial ownership: 41,668 shares (31,376 shares held + 10,292 options exercisable within 60 days). Ownership is less than 1% of shares outstanding .
- Outstanding unvested award (as of Dec 31, 2024): 550,000 unexercisable options at $6.69, expiring 07/28/2034; scheduled to vest 25% on Jul 29, 2025 and monthly thereafter through Jul 29, 2028 .
- Pledging/hedging: Company policy prohibits pledging, margining, short sales, and hedging transactions by insiders, enhancing alignment and reducing risk of forced sales .
Employment Terms
- At-will employment via offer letter; currently President .
- Severance (without Cause / for Good Reason): 12 months base salary; prior-year bonus if unpaid; up to 12 months COBRA premium payments/reimbursements .
- Change-in-control (double-trigger within 12 months): 18 months base salary; 1.5x target bonus; prior-year bonus if unpaid; up to 18 months COBRA; full acceleration of time‑based vesting on equity awards (performance-based awards per award terms) .
- Clawback: Recovery policy applies to incentive compensation tied to financial metrics for the 3 fiscal years prior to a restatement due to material noncompliance .
- Indemnification: Standard indemnification agreement entered into with NKTX .
- Related party transactions: None—8‑K notes no material interests under Item 404(a) in connection with the appointment .
Investment Implications
- Pay-for-performance alignment: 2024 cash bonus paid at 90% of target based on corporate goals, and equity is primarily in stock options (not RSUs), aligning value creation with share price appreciation and minimizing immediate share issuance/selling pressure .
- Retention risk and potential supply: A large 550,000 option grant vests 25% on Jul 29, 2025 and monthly thereafter through mid‑2028, creating strong retention incentives; the award itself does not add near‑term selling pressure until vesting/exercise windows open .
- Governance quality: Double‑trigger CIC protections, explicit anti‑pledging/hedging policy, and an SEC/Nasdaq‑compliant clawback reduce governance red flags and indicate shareholder‑friendly structures .
- Role-specific value creation levers: Mahmood’s background in strategy, financing, and building manufacturing capacity, plus mandate to drive cross‑functional alignment, are well-matched to NKTX’s expansion into autoimmune indications with multiple ongoing trials and anticipated data in 2025, supporting execution potential in near‑term catalysts .